We experience the Italian brand's latest grand tourer and examine what's next for the long-serving machine.

2018 Maserati GranTurismo at Goodwood

We experience the Italian brand's latest grand tourer and examine what's next for the long-serving machine.

2018 Maserati GranTurismo at Goodwood

03 Jul 2017Peter McKay

Maserati has given its long-running four-seat GranTurismo coupe and GranCabrio drop top sports cars anti-aging pills.

They've been the recipient of restyles that were never intended to happen until a reshuffle of Maserati model plans delayed the introduction of an all-new Maserati GT/GC for a couple of years, or more.

So instead of the GT being eased out of production at the end of 2016 to make way for the completely-new Alfieri (a smaller two-seat Porsche 911 competitor), and ultimately the all-new GT and GC, Maserati has given us generously facelifted versions in the interim.

But best-laid plans….

The Italian marque is very quiet on when the world will see the production version of the smaller two-seat Alfieri, the concept of which was unveiled at the 2014 Geneva motor show. It denies the push-back in the introduction of the all-new next-generation GT/GC can be blamed on the recent downturn in China sales, and a subsequent loss of profits intended for new product development.

But steady sales of the current GT/GC models - around 3000 a year - and positive customer feedback have encouraged the Italian sports-luxury brand to splash out on a serious facelift to keep pulling in buyers for a the immediate future.

More than 37,000 GranTurismo and GranCabrio models have been produced in the small Viale Ciro Menotti factory in Modena and it looks like Maserati is keen for the sales to keep ticking over.

Both have been around for quite some time in modern-day production terms; current shaped GT bowed back in 2007; the GC followed two years later.

Another factor is the necessity to get the eventual replacement GT/CG right, with many production decisions still to be made. Does Maserati keep the barking, bellowing V8? Probably not, despite its particular appeal. A turbocharged V6 seems a likely powerplant in light of tougher emissions targets,

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What is certain is some non-negotiable elements of two cars. Timeless styling, two doors, four seats, front engine, strong performance, reliability and high levels of comfort and character.

The next gen car has a tough act to follow; it must be better in every way to succeed in the very competitive premium market of around one million vehicles a year. Luxury SUVs are making huge inroads while the coupe/convertible slice is now around 15 per cent.

Maserati claims ownership of the four-seat GranTurismo concept so it's no great surprise that it places so much importance on this high-impact, low-volume seller. This latest facelift goes surprisingly further than the expected exterior modest styling tweak.

Adherents have an unholy love of the GT/GC look – like Sophia Loren, these ageless beauties wear the years well. The unmistakeable sound of the naturally aspirated 4.7-litre V8 engine aboard the GT and GC is also part of the appeal.

Seeking maximum impact for the facelifted models, Maserati settled on most significant car culture event in the world – the Goodwood Festival of Speed - to show off the 2018 model GranTurismo and GranCabrio (although the Americans saw the coupe a couple of days earlier at a special reveal at the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange).

Goodwood though, with its massive turn-out of car aficionados, was reserved for the world premiere of the GranCabrio.

Making their global dynamic debuts, the restyled GranTurismo and GranCabrio models took to the Goodwood Hillclimb.

Sitting alongside tame British racing driver Jamie Unwin in a deep red GranTurismo MC for the spirited blast up the 1.16-mile ribbon of tarmac was fun though way short of a definitive product evaluation for Drive. That will need to wait until the official launch.

While Maserati would never suggest the GranCabrio is a pure sports car, Mr Unwin showed that with the right buttons pressed, traction control switched off, and the driver in attack mode, and that glorious, operatic non-turbo V8 revved out to approaching its mad 8000 red line, the coupe can manage some very athletic manoeuvres. The Pirellis hanging on for dear life, it fairly tore up the twisting, narrow climb to have this passenger quickly re-evaluating the comfortable cruiser tag I'd rather rashly applied before we set off.

As before, the both models comprise two versions, the Sport and the MC (Maserati Corse). Both versions are equipped with the naturally aspirated 4.7-litre V8 engine, hand-built by Ferrari in Maranello. It too has received some attention in this facelift, with power upped from 338kW to 343kW at 7000rpm with 520Nm of torque peaking at 4750rpm. A six-speed ZF automatic gearbox is standard.

It persists with those long, fixed boomerang paddles either side of the wheel. There is still debate over fixed versus paddles that move. Race drivers generally prefer paddle shifters that move with the wheel, like Mercedes, Porsche, Audi. However Maserati quickly insists that it is not alone, and that Ferrari and Alfa also have a fixed gear paddles. One or two British brands are also supporters.

The engine power increase leads to a slight improvement in performance compared to the previous model year. The 2018 GranTurismo Sport accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 299 km/h while the lighter MC version makes it to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and has a top speed of 301 km/h.

The extent of the cabin upgrade is unusual for a car approaching its use-by date but perhaps understandable given the criticism of the music and sat-nav offerings.

It's not easy to redesign an existing car to accept today's sophisticated state-of-the art infotainment systems and integrate it into all the other systems that have vital roles in running the car optimally and safely. But that's exactly what Maserati has done. In a pleasing modern-meets-tradition way.

Many older, long-time owners were apparently content with the clunky old multimedia system with its small screen. But with the median age of Maserati owners coming down, the passe system had to go.

The 2018 GT and GC get a new, high resolution 8.4-inch capacitive touch screen (the same as the Levante, Ghibli and Quattroporte) and Harman Kardon premium sound system. Importantly the infotainment system offers both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring functions, while the redesigned central console accommodates a double rotary controller knob of forged aluminium.

Maserati does flair and elegance like few others but the cabin also has room for two reasonably dimensioned rear passengers in individual seats trimmed in leather from Italian craftspeople Poltrona Frau. There are also other Alcantara and leather upholstery choices.

A little too about the outside changes.

Yes, the new 'sharknose' hexagonal grille inspired by the Alfieri Concept is obvious and adds a three-dimensional effect to its frontal of the GT and GC.

Along with new, lower air ducts, the revised grille helps improve the airflow while reducing aerodynamic drag from 0.33 to 0.32.

The 2018 GranTurismo and GranCabrio will arrive in Australia and New Zealand early next year, with local prices and specifications yet to be locked in.

But expect the Oz pricing of the base GT to be not far from the $295,000 of the current version.

Maserati Australia and New Zealand boss Glen Sealey believes the GT and GC can sustain buyer appeal for several reasons one being the rarity of a large displacement, naturally aspirated in a segment increasing populated by turbocharged and supercharged powerplants.

Australians, he says, relish the barking exhaust sounds and an engine that really comes to life high in the rev range.

The 4.7 is the last non-turbo V8 in the Maserati line-up.

History on show

A collection of historic Maserati GranTurismo cars was also assembled at Goodwood to reinforce the point about the company's 70 years of stylish GT cars.

The display started with the A6 1500, the original GranTurismo model launched at the 1947 Geneva Motor Show with a 1.5-litre six-cylinder in-line engine under a revolutionary Pininfarina body.

The first "mass-produced" Maserati, the 3500GT, followed in 1957 with an aluminium body around a 3.5-litre six-cylinder engine.

The 1967 Ghibli Coupé, designed by a youthful Giorgetto Giugiaro and considered one of the great Italian grand tourers, was powered by a 4.7-litre V8. The Ghibli SS followed in 1970 with a larger, 4.9-litre V8.

The predecessor to today's GrandTurismo, the 3200GT, designed by Giugiaro, arrived in 1998 with a twin-turbo 3.2-litre V8 engine.